Dawn Staley's coaching tree continues to flourish, and its latest branch is making history in HBCU women's basketball. Olivia Gaines, a former player under Staley at South Carolina, is set to become the next head coach at North Carolina Central — a proud HBCU in Durham, North Carolina.
According to a source with direct knowledge of the hire, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement expected in the coming days, Gaines brings a winning pedigree and a deep understanding of building championship culture. She takes over the Eagles' program after two highly successful seasons at Division II Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, where she posted a 36-19 overall record and a 29-14 mark in conference play. Under her leadership, Allen won 18 regular-season games in back-to-back seasons, setting a program record.
What makes Gaines' achievements at Allen even more remarkable? She was the only head coach in the SIAC competing without full scholarships for her players. Despite that challenge, she developed SIAC Freshman of the Year Eboni Clay and turned the Yellow Jackets into a consistent winner.
Gaines' coaching journey is a testament to her versatility and dedication. She previously served as an assistant at Georgia Southern and as head coach at Richard Bland College, a junior college in Petersburg, Virginia. There, she led the team to a stunning 29-3 record and a berth in the NJCAA Division II national championship game. She has also been a high school head coach, the head coach at USC Salkehatchie, and worked as an assistant across both Division II and Division III ranks.
As a player, Gaines was part of the foundational era that turned South Carolina into a national powerhouse. A native of Chester, South Carolina, she played for Staley during the 2013-14 season when the Gamecocks won their first of 10 SEC regular-season titles under Staley. The following season, South Carolina captured the SEC Tournament crown and made its first Final Four appearance — a milestone that set the stage for the program's three national championships and eight Final Four runs.
Now, Gaines brings that championship DNA to NC Central, ready to write the next chapter of her own coaching story.